WWII Purple Heart being returned to Kansas family

Medal was found among widow's items sold to antique shop in New York

WATERTOWN, N.Y. — A Purple Heart medal awarded to a Kansas soldier killed in World War II is being returned to his family after it was found among his widow’s items at a northern New York antique shop.

Capt. Zachariah Fike of the Vermont National Guard, founder of Purple Hearts Reunited, says his mother found Pvt. 1st Class Alvie Leroy Scott’s Purple Heart among items his widow’s family sold after she died last year.

Scott was a paratrooper who was killed in Belgium in January 1945.

His widow, Ester Ella Bates of Watertown, never remarried. Family members who sold her items didn’t know she was married and weren’t familiar with Scott’s name.

Fike contacted Scott’s family in Kansas. His Purple Heart will be returned to Scott’s niece on April 12 at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Mo.

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That is one less military medal falling into the hands of someone who does not have the right to wear it.

Stolen Valor is an offense against every one who has served in any of our military. People who claim such medals without having been awarded them are criminals and should be prosecuted. Wrongly claiming to have been awarded any military medal should NOT be allowed. It is NOT free speech as some have claimed - it IS fraud.